Acoustical tile supporting frame



July 19', 1949- J. s. LOWELL ACOUSTICAL TILE SUPPORING FRAME Filed April 26, 1946 INVENTOR, JACK s. LOWELL 00 COOOOOO OOCOOOOO 00000000 00000000 ATTORNEY Patented July 19, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ACOUSTICAL TILE SUPPORTING FRAME Jack S. Lowell, Portland, Oreg.

Application April 26, 1946, Serial No. 665,299

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to acoustical tile supporting frames and is particularly related to the holding of acoustical tile to ceiling and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide permanent holders or boxes for supporting acoustical tile to the ceiling of a room, said holder being perforated to allow sound to enter through to the acoustical pad being supported.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a finished acoustical installation that can be painted or finished without interfering with its acoustical value.

A still further object of the invention is the simplicity with which these boxes can be applied to the ceiling of the room supporting the acoustical pads therein, requiring less time for installation and a more even or finished surface.

And another object of the invention is its long life and durability in case of excess heat there is no glue to come loose allowing the acoustical pads to become unsightly or fall from the ceiling.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specification and claim.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary drawing of the corner of a room looking up underneath the ceiling and illustrating my new and improved acoustical pad holders being installed.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken through the holder showing the same being secured to the ceiling.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the holder as viewed from underneath, or in other words as viewing the face of the holder.

Figure 4 is a perspective view looking down into one of my new and improved acoustical tile holders. 7

In the drawings:

My new and improved acoustical pad or tile holder consists of a metal box I, having a perforated face 2. These perforations are indicated at 3 and cover the entire face 2 of the holder. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, in the installation of the holders a ledge l is secured around the upper corner of the room adjacent the side walls and the ceiling 6. The outer row of holders I rest on top of the ledges 4 adjacent the side walls 5 and are secured to the ceiling at 'l by the ears 8, having a suitable screw 9 passing through the opening l0 into the ceiling 6. These ears form attached parts of the side walls of the holder I.

outwardly turned lips II are formed on the side walls l2 and I3 of the holder. These lips are inserted under the edges ll of the holders preis forced into place with these lips under the surface M, the screws 9 are inserted within the slots l0 of the ears 8 and screwed into the ceiling. It can be seen in viewing Figure 1 that there is only one screw required for each holder. The lips II holding the opposite side of the holders under the edges 14 of the previously installed holders as above described. The acoustical pad is indicated at I5 resting on the spacer bars I6 and being held against the ceiling at I! by said bars.

In operation the sound passes through the holes 3 of the metal or plastic holder I and enters the space 18 between the tile 15 and being absorbed by the acoustical pad 15 dissipating the sound within the pad. When the room or ceiling is painted or finished the face 2 of the holders accept this finish smoothly and without filling the holes 3, giving the room a most pleasing finish, but still providing an acoustical ceiling. By the securing of the holders with permanent fastening means as screws 9, the pads will remain permanently in place, which has been an objection raised relative to acoustical tile secured to the ceiling in the usual manner, as for instance glue which would allow the tile to become disengaged from the ceiling due to heat or other reasons.

I donot wish to be limited to the exact material or mechanical structure as illustrated in my drawings, as other equivalents may be substituted still coming within the scope of my claim.

I claim:

A frame for supporting acoustical sections, comprising a structure including a perforated bottom and four vertical side walls, the inside surface of the bottom having transverse ribs, a flange extending from the upper edge of one of the vertical walls near the end thereof, a flange extending outwardly from the central portion of the upper edge of the opposite vertical wall, the upper edge of one of the vertical walls at right angles to the walls having the before-mentioned flanges having a centrally disposed outwardly projecting flange.

JACK S. LOWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,716,626 Devol June 11, 1929 2,001,733 Kellogg May 21, 1935 2,061,263 Wells Nov. 17, 1936 2,112,631 MacDonald Mar. 29, 1938 

